American singer-songwriter and actress Madonna sold an abstract painting by French artist Fernand Leger for $7.16 million on Tuesday to raise funds for girls’ education projects in Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere.
She put the abstract painting on display during a special dinner at Sotheby’s auction house in New York last week (ends03May14) to drum up interest in the lot.
Ray of Light Foundation, which supports girls’ education in Afghanistan, Pakistan and other countries will benefit from the sales however it was not immediately known who purchased the abstract painting.
Madonna earlier in April said that she bought the painting in 1990 and that selling it would combine her passions for art and education by raising funds for the Ray of Light Foundation.
“I cannot accept a world where women or girls are wounded, shot or killed for either going to school or teaching in girls’ schools. We don’t have time to be complacent,” she said following a statement.
She also added, “I want to trade something valuable for something invaluable – Educating Girls!”
Madonna also said, “I cannot accept a world where women or girls are wounded, shot or killed for either going to school or teaching in girls’ schools.”
The singer has previously focused her charity efforts on building schools in Malawi – where her two adopted children were born – through her Raising Malawi organisation.


